Theses and dissertations

This collection includes both ASU Theses and Dissertations, submitted by graduate students, and the Barrett, Honors College theses submitted by undergraduate students. 

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Disentangling the directions of influence among trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and alcohol and drug problems

Description
The present study utilized longitudinal data from a high-risk community sample (n= 377; 166 trauma-exposed; 54% males; 52% children of alcoholics; 73% non-Hispanic/Latino Caucasian; 22% Hispanic/Latino; 5% other ethnicity) to test a series of hypotheses that may help explain the risk pathways that link traumatic stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)…

The present study utilized longitudinal data from a high-risk community sample (n= 377; 166 trauma-exposed; 54% males; 52% children of alcoholics; 73% non-Hispanic/Latino Caucasian; 22% Hispanic/Latino; 5% other ethnicity) to test a series of hypotheses that may help explain the risk pathways that link traumatic stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology, and problematic alcohol and drug use. Specifically, this study examined whether pre-trauma substance use problems increase risk for trauma exposure (the high-risk hypothesis) or PTSD symptoms (the susceptibility hypothesis), whether PTSD symptoms increase risk for later alcohol/drug problems (the self-medication hypothesis), and whether the association between PTSD symptoms and alcohol/drug problems is due to shared risk factors (the shared vulnerability hypothesis). This study also examined the roles of gender and ethnicity in these pathways. A series of logistic and negative binomial regressions were performed in a path analysis framework. A composite pre-trauma family adversity variable was formed from measures of family conflict, family life stress, parental alcoholism, and other parent psychopathology. Results provided the strongest support for the self-medication hypothesis, such that PTSD symptoms predicted higher levels of later alcohol and drug problems among non-Hispanic/Latino Caucasian participants, over and above the influences of pre-trauma family adversity, pre-trauma substance use problems, trauma exposure, and demographic variables. Results partially supported the high-risk hypothesis, such that adolescent substance use problems had a marginally significant unique effect on risk for assaultive violence exposure but not on overall risk for trauma exposure. There was no support for the susceptibility hypothesis, as pre-trauma adolescent substance use problems did not significantly influence risk for PTSD diagnosis/symptoms over and above the influence of pre-trauma family adversity. Finally, there was little support for the shared vulnerability hypothesis. Neither trauma exposure nor preexisting family adversity accounted for the link between PTSD symptoms and later substance use problems. These results add to a growing body of literature in support of the self-medication hypothesis. Findings extend previous research by showing that PTSD symptoms may influence the development of alcohol and drug problems over and above the influence of trauma exposure itself, preexisting family risk factors, and baseline levels of substance use.
ContributorsHaller, Moira (Author) / Chassin, Laurie (Thesis advisor) / Davis, Mary (Committee member) / Pina, Armando (Committee member) / Tein, Jenn-Yun (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2014
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Daily Rumination and Diurnal Cortisol: The Role of Bicultural Competence and Gender

Description

Latinos make up the fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States and are at higher risk for the developmental of internalizing symptoms in adolescence than other ethnic groups (Merikangas et al., 2010). Rumination has been identified as a transdiagnostic risk factor associated with several internalizing disorders such as…

Latinos make up the fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States and are at higher risk for the developmental of internalizing symptoms in adolescence than other ethnic groups (Merikangas et al., 2010). Rumination has been identified as a transdiagnostic risk factor associated with several internalizing disorders such as depression, anxiety, and comorbidities of the two (McLaughlin & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2011; Nolen-Hoeksema et al., 2008). Further, indicators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (i.e., flatter diurnal cortisol slopes [DCS] and greater cortisol awakening responses [CAR]) are associated with greater risk of internalizing disorders and chronic stress (Adam et al., 2010; Adam et al., 2017). Notably, no studies have examined the association between rumination and the diurnal cortisol slope in Latino populations, and literature on the relation of rumination and the CAR is mixed (Cropley et al., 2015; Hilt et al., 2017; Zoccola et al., 2011). Leveraging self-reported rumination as well as gold-standard salivary cortisol collection procedures (Stalder et al., 2016), the current study sought to elucidate associations between daily rumination and diurnal cortisol in an adolescent Latino sample by examining gender differences and bicultural competence as potential moderators of this association. Results indicated a significant but small association between night-before rumination on problems/stress and next-day DCS. Further, gender differences were detected in the effects of same-day rumination and the CAR. Greater rumination on feelings was associated with a smaller CAR the same day in males, while greater rumination on problems/stress was linked with a greater CAR the same day in females. In addition, there were no buffering effects of bicultural competence. Findings inform future research regarding potential bidirectional relations of daily rumination and the CAR, as well was how different kinds of daily rumination may have differing associations with the CAR of males and females.
ContributorsTrent, Kevin (Author) / Doane, Leah (Thesis director) / Davis, Mary (Committee member) / Cruz, Rick (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch (Contributor)
Created2023-05